, but about 40 minutes from here in the city of stratford is a huge vigil tonight. thousands of people honoring all the victims of this heinous act, but especially teacher victoria soto. the entire state is in mourning, and it's especially deep. ♪ >> reporter: this community is bustling on a saturday night, but with heavy hearts, and that's how it's been all day. >> it feels so unreal. to think that those poor children couldn't ever see something like this coming and those parents who now have to live without their children, it's too much. >> reporter: beyond the school community, which is so profoundly impacted, some people nearby also witnessed the devastation. >> we came around the corner of this fire house, two little boys, one screaming hysterically, and the other one telling him, stop, stop running! stop! >> reporter: she says this tragedy would forever change her fond memories of being a student at sandy hook elementary. >> i remember that school as a happy, safe zone. it's been taken away. >> reporter: help has been pouring into the area from across the state, including from